Electroosmotically induced alterations in peristaltic microflows of power law fluids through physiological vessels

A mathematical model to analyze the effects of electric double layer and applied external electric field on peristaltic transport of non-Newtonian aqueous solution through a microchannel is presented. Ostwald-de Waele power law model is employed to describe the non-Newtonian fluid, in an effort to capture the essential biofluid dynamics. The governing equations of physical problem are simplified using low Reynolds number and long wavelength approximations. Poisson Boltzmann equations are also solved under Debye Huckel linearization. Following non-dimensional transformation of the linearized boundary value problem, closed-form analytical solutions are presented for the velocity components, pressure gradient, average flow rate, and stream function subject to physically appropriate boundary conditions. Validation with existing results is also made. A comparative discussion between shear thinning fluid and shear thickening fluids under the influences of Debye length and Helmholtz-Smoluchowski velocity are presented numerically. Trapping phenomenon for dilatant fluids and pseudoplastic fluids under the electrokinetic phenomenon is also computed. This model can help toward designing artificial biomedical devices based on microfluidic devices which can also be applicable to control the physiological transport.